NEW ZEALAND.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2098, 17 December 1885, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[l!\ TELKGHArH.— PRE-vS ASSOCIATION.] GISBORNE, Tuesday. The South Pacific Oil Company have tesolsed to continue boring several hundred feet. They are now down 930 feet. The .Supreme Court sat till three o'clock this morning. John Depean, for attempt to cai'se abortion to a young girl, was sentenced to five yenra' penal servitude. This finished the criminal business. CHRTSTCHURCH, Tuesday. At the R M. Court to-day a storekeeper was lined £10 for selling beer u itliout a license. The defendant alleged that he had been acting as agent for certain hi ewers. The defendants in the case of Stewart v. Eoydhou«e (ENening Press), by Dr. Stew.ut, have taken out an order for change of \enueto Dunedin. The date of tiial will be fixed by Mr Justice Williams. Matthew Burnett, the temperance lecturer, concluded a month's mission in the South Island with a meeting at Lyttelton last night. During the month 1200 persons signed the pledge, and 14,000 took the Blue Ribbon. 8.">0 family cards have hern issued. Mr Burnett tlunked the Press of the colony for their notices, and nil w lio have assisted and entertained him duiing his mission. He left in the T^rawera for Hobart to day. DUNEDIN, Tuesday. At the Edinburgh University, New Zealand students held their own. L. Barnett, of Wellington, and Somerville, passed their first professional examination, the former gaining two medals ; W. Cetton also passed the first professional, besides carrying off two medals. A son of A. J. Burns also secured honours. The Star states that Mr Macandrew will be called to the Upper House immediately. A six-roomed house In South Dunedin was burned down this morning. Insurance, £350 in the Equitable. About 230 persons left Dunedin this morning to be present at the opening of the Catlins River railway at Balclutha. Mr Macandrew declared the lino open, and stated that if extended to Waikawai, as intended, it would open 80,000 acres. A general holiday was observed at Balclutha The Premier left town this afternoon to attend a banquet, which takes place there in connection with the opening of the line. A deputation of the unemployed waited on the Premier to day, accompanied by Messis J. C Brown and Bradshaw, M.HR.'s. The latter assured the Picmier the men were not loafers. It was represented that the wages offered, 4s Gil pei day, were quite inadequate, and the work promised would only employ 40, whereas 100 had signed the petition. Many of these had been out of work some time, and had families dependent on them. The Premier, in reply, Baid the wages offered in ISBO were lower than the rate now proposed. The Government had no work to be done, Parliament not having sanctioned the letting of another contract on tho Otago Central Railway. He would, however, communicate with the Minister of Public Works. Mr Brown mentioned that the men could not get work in country districts, as there was hardly sufficient for the ordinary country hands. Wednesday. The Premier informed the unemployed that plenty of work will be provided tomorrow in too city improvements neaj the railway,